Door latch and lock structure



Feb. 1, 1938. c. E. MACE DOOR LATCH AND LOCK STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 3, 1936 airwa /4r y wi l gig? fi/ulmjs Patented Feb. I, 1938 DOOR LATCH AND LOCK STRUCTURE Charles E. Mace, Ottumwa, Iowa, assignor of one-half to Harold S. Vinson, Ottumwa, Iowa Application November 3, 1936, Serial No. 108,991

7 Claims. (01. -146) The object of my invention is to provide a door latch and lock structure, particularly adapted for use on motor vehicles.

More especially, it is my purpose to provide a lock and latch, which is primarily adapted for use with pleasure vehicles.

Another purpose is to provide such a structure having a handle designed to be on the outside for instance of an automobile door, which can .be locked in position and which will leave the latch bar free for operation from the inside of the car. v

Another purpose is to provide such a structure in which the outside handle can be locked either from outside the car or from the inside of the car, and yet which will permit the latch bar to still be operated from the inside of the car.

Another object is to provide a structure in which the outside handle is arranged in a countersink in the door, so it will not catch on clothing.

A further object is to provide a number of improved details in structure of a latch and lock mechanism.

- With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my door latch and lock structure, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal, sectional view ofa portion of a car door equipped with a latch and lock structure embodying my invention.

Flgure 2 is a front elevation of the latch and lock structure.

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional-view taken on the line 3-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to, that of Figure 4 illustrating the parts in another position; and

Figure 6 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 2.

In the accompanying drawing, I have used the reference character A to indicate generally an automobile door or the like and the character B to indicate the body of the car. Since most pleasure cars are now made of metal, I have shown that type of structure in my drawing.

The door A has the inner wall "I and the outer wall I! connected by the closure wall I! at the edge of the door.

Similarly the car body B has theinner wall l4 and the outer wall I! and thekeeper l6 between them.

For greater convenience in manufacture and installation, a greater part of the latch mechanism is supported on a metal plate l1, which when installed is designed to be mounted against the outer surface of the inner wall Ill. When I here speak of outer surface, I'mean that surface which is toward the outside of the car.

The plate I! has at one end the flange l8 extending at right angles. This flange l8 has an opening l9 through which the beveled latch tip 20 is extended. The latch tip 20 has the ordinary latch bolt 2|, which near its end farthest from the latch tip 20 slides through a yoke 22 on the plate l1.

From now on, I shall describe the structure as though the plate I! were in its vertical position as installed as illustrated for instance in Figure 1, and shall treat that face of it which is toward the outside of the car as its outer face.

Extending outwardly from this outer face is an upper angle bracket 23. Similarly extending outwardly from the outer face of the plate I! is a lower angle bracket 24, the outer end of which as indicated at 25 in Figure 2 is offset slightly toward the bracket 23. This offset is merely for the purpose of affording proper clearance for the various parts.

The latch bolt 2| rests just above the bracket 24, as perhaps best illustrated in Figure 4, and may even slide thereon. The latch bolt, 2| as shown in Figure 6 has an outwardly projecting arm 26.

I provide a handle which is indicated generally at C, and which is in the form of a bell crank lever, with the handle portion 21 and the arm portion 28.

The handle C is pivoted on a pintle or the like 29 between the outer ends of the brackets 22 and 24 with the arm 28 projecting generally in'the direction of the plate I! and the handle portion 21 projecting generally to the right from the pintle 29 when the parts arein the position shown in Figure 1. a i

It should be mentioned perhaps that the wall l2 is provided with an indentation or countersink which receives the handle 21 when the latter is in its normal position. The handle is tensioned toward this normal position by means of a spring 3|, which has a coil mounted on the pintle 29 and one am engaged with the bracket 24 and the other arm engaged with the arm 20 (see Figures 1, 2 and 3).

The handle 21 can be pulled from its normal full line position shown in Figure 1, when it is substantially received within the recess 38 outwardly to its dotted line position shown in Figure 1. This swings the arm 28 to the right to its dotted line position shown in Figure 1.

In the inner part of the arm 28 is mounted a slidable bolt 33 actuated by a locking mechanism 34 of any difierential type. The slidable bolt 33 when in its retracted position stands just to the left of the arm 28 on the latch bolt 2| when the latter is in locking position.

The latch tip 20 and latch bolt 2| are springpressed toward locking position by means of a spring 35.

- The bracket 24 has a hole 36 slidable bolt 33, and by actuating the lock mechanism 34 and sliding the bolt 33 from its position shown for instance in Figure 4 to its position shown in Figure 5, the end of the slidable bolt 33 may be projected through the hole 36, whereupon the handle can not be actuated.

On the other hand, when the slidable bolt 33 is in its retracted position, illustrated in Figure 4 and in Figure 3, the swinging movement of the handle 21 from its full line position shown'in Figure 1 to its dotted line position shown in that figure, causes the slidable bolt 33 to engage the arm 26 (see Figures 3, 4 and6) for-retracting the latch tip 20 and latch bolt 2| for unlocking the door.

The spring 3| tends to return the handle to its normal position whenever the grasp of the operator is released, and the spring 35 then serves to return latch and latch bar to locking position.

Connected to the latch bolt 2| is a link 38 shown for instance in Figures 1 and 2. This link has an elongated slot 39 slidably mounted on a pin 48 on the latch bolt 2|. It is intended to be connected with any door opening structure operable fromthe inside of the car, which structure is not here of any special importance.

On account of the fact that the pin 40 slides in the slot 39, the mechanism here shown may be operated without operating the link 38. The lock mechanism 34 is not shown in detail and any suitable mechanism might be employed for moving the slidable bolt 33 lengthwise.- As here shown, the cylinder of the locking mechanism 34,

is mounted to rotate and has on its inner end an off-center pin 4|, extending lengthwise of the cylinder and at right angles to the slidable bolt 33.

The slidable bolt 33 has a groove 42 into which the pin 4| projects. These parts are so arranged that when the cylinder of the lock 34 is rotated, the slidable bolt 33 will be moved lengthwise.

I have also provided a separate means for looking the latch from the inside of the car. This is of peculiar shape and is shown at F for instance in Figure 4. It consists of a plate portion 43 pivoted at 44 on the plate l1. Projecting from one edge of the plate portion 43 is a flange 45. Projecting downwardly from one end of the flange 45 at the outer edge thereof is a hook-like member 46, having the finger 41.

The parts of this locking device F are so arranged that when they are in neutral position shown in Figure they have no effect upon the operation of the device, but when theyare swung from the position of Figure 5 to the position of Figure 4, then the finger 41 projects through the hole 36 in the bracket member 24, as shown in Figure 4, and the flange 45 stands behind the arm 28, so as to prevent latch opening movement of that arm. An attempt to pull the handle 21 in line with the.

outwardly from its position shown in Figure 1 for instance to its dotted line position in that figure will be resisted by engagement of the arm 28 with the flange 45 (see Figures 1 and 4).

The locking member F may be manually operated by means of. a pin 48 secured to the plate 43 and extending through a curved slot 43 in the plate I! and through a suitable slot 58 in the inner wall In of the door, and having on its outer end the head 8|. The material around the slot 50 is arranged to coact with a spring 52 on the pin 48, so that the pin will be frictionally held in any position to which it may be adjusted.

When the latch member F is thus manually operated to any position, it can, of course, be manually operated from the inside of the ear to any other position.

It will be noted that regardless of the position of the latch member F, the latch tip 23 and latch bolt 2| can be freely operated by means of the link 38. Thus the door can be unlatched from inside at any time. 1

Ii, however. the latch member F has been moved to locking position, and it is desired tounlock the door from the outside, the key is turned in the lockdevice 34 and the bolt 33 is first moved to its extended position shown in Figure 5 for engaging the finger 41 and moving the member F to unlatching position, and is then retracted, whereupon the, handle 21 can be freely operated for opening the door.

If it is desired to lock the door from the outside, the key is turned to position for movingthe bolt 33 into the opening 36 and the parts are then left in this position. It is then impossible to open the door from the outside. The projection of the bolt 33 through the opening 38 looks the arm 28 and the handle 21 against door unlatching movement The door can not then be unlocked from outside without using a key for retracting the bolt 33.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a rather simple lock structure, providing for the arrangement of the handle 21 normally in position in the recess 38, where it will not catch on the garments of those who get into and out of the car. I Y

The door can be unlatched and opened by pulling the handle 21 outwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 .for unlatchin and then continuing the pull for swinging the door open.

When the bolt 33 of the lock is retracted, it will coact with the arm 28 for unlatching the door, and when the parts are in-proper position, and it is projected through the hole 38, the handle mechanism can not be worked. Yet even then the latch bolt 2| can be operated from the inside 0! the car.

The structure is such that the latch member F can be manipulated from inside the car for moving it to position shown in Figure 4, where it will prevent any door opening movement oi. the handle 21 and yet does not interfere with the unlatching of the door from the inside.

Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my lock, and its parts and in the materials used, and the shapes and sizes 0! the various elements,.and .it is my intention to cover by my claims anymodifications in structure or use of mechanicalequivalents, which may be reasonably included within the scope of my invention and of my claims.

I claim:

1. In a lock structure of the kind described, a

support, a latch bolt slidablymounted thereon having a projecting arm, a handle having an arm extending substantially at right angles thereto, means for pivotally mounting said handle and arm to swing like a bell crank lever, a sliding bolt carried by said handle arm and adapted to coact with the arm on the latch bolt for opening the latch bolt when the sliding bolt is in retracted position and the handle is manipulated for latch opening movement.

2. In a lock structure of the kind described, a.

support, a latch bolt slidably mounted thereon having a projecting arm, a handle having an arm extending substantially at right angles thereto, means for pivotally mounting said handle and arm to swing like a bell crank lever,

= a sliding bolt carried by said handle arm and adapted to coact with the arm on the latch bolt for opening the latch bolt when the sliding bolt is in retracted position and the handle is manipulated for latch opening movement, springs for normally holding the latch bolt in latching position and the handle in inoperative position. 3. In a lock structure of the kind described, a support, a latch bolt slidably mounted thereon lated for latch opening movement, springs tor normally holding the latch bolt in latching position and the handle in inoperative position and a part for cooperating with said sliding bolt when it is in its extended position for preventing handle operation.

4. In a lock structure of the kind described, a support, a latch bolt slidably mounted thereon having a projecting arm, a handle having an arm extending substantially at right angles thereto, means for pivotally mounting said handle and arm to swing like a bell crank lever, a sliding bolt carried by said handle arm and adapted to coact with the arm on the latch bolt for opening the latch bolt when the sliding bolt is in retracted position and the handle is manipulated for latch opening movement, springs for normally holding the latch bolt in latching position and the handle in inoperative position, a member pivotally mounted, having a part adapted to swing into and out of position in the path of travel of the handle and to prevent such travel, said member also having a part adapted to be engaged by said sliding bolt on extending movement thereof for moving the member to inoperative position.

5. In a lock structure for vehicles and the like, a support, a latch bolt slidably mounted thereon, a handle pivotally mounted on the support having an arm arranged to move the latch bolt to unlocking position, a member adapted to be moved into and out of the path of said arm and a sliding bolt carried by said arm and adapted when extended to move the member to inoperative position and to lock the-handle against unlatching movement. a

.6. In a lock structure for vehicles and the lik a support, a latch bolt slidably mounted thereon, brackets on the support, a handle pivotally mounted between the brackets and having an arm, a movable bolt carried by said arm, arranged to cooperate with the latch bolt for opening the latch bolt when the handle is moved to unlatching position, one of said brackets having a hole to receive the bolt when the bolt is extended to thus lock the handle.

7. In a lock structure for vehicles and the like, a support, a latch bolt slidably mounted thereon, brackets on the support, a handle pivotally mounted between the brackets and having an arm, a movable bolt carried by said arm, arranged to cooperate with the latch bolt for opening the latch bolt when the handle is moved to unlatching position, one of said brackets having a hole to receive the bolt when the movable bolt is extended to thus lock the handle, a dogging member having a part adapted to be moved into the path of unlatching movement of the arm and having a part in the path of extending movement of the movable bolt.

CHARLES E. MACE. 

